Law is equal, probe Shinde and Deshmukh: HC

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the CBI probing Adarsh Housing Society scam to look into allegations of involvement of Union ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushil Kumar Shinde, observing Law is "equal" for all and should "reach everyone."

The high court also directed CBI to submit a progress report by next week after noting that the investigating agency should make efforts to look into the involvement of everybody concerned, irrespective of who he is and what position he holds. Deshmukh, Union minister for rural development and Shinde, Union power minister, were chief ministers of Maharashtra when the files related to the Adarsh building in upscale Colaba were processed.

The directions were given by a division bench of justice Ranjana Desai and justice RG Ketkar while hearing petitions related to the scam, including the one filed by Adarsh Society challenging the demolition order and activist Simpreet Singh's petition seeking monitoring of the probe by the court.

Singh's petition says CBI has filed cases against a select few, but the ‘main players’ like Deshmukh and Shinde — both former CMs — who have not been named in its FIR.

"CBI should make efforts to look into the involvement of everybody concerned, irrespective of who he is and what position he holds. Law is equal for all and should reach everyone. CBI, before filing its progress report next week, should also look into these allegations," justice Desai said.

Additional Solicitor General Darius Khambatta, appearing for CBI, told the court that the agency had already taken all documents and material regarding Deshmukh and Shinde, obtained by Simpreet Singh.

"We are following it up. The agency is conducting the probe on a war-footing. A progress report would be submitted to the court next Wednesday," Khambatta said.